U.S.-TURKEY RELATIONS UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION

WASHINGTON, DC: On 13 April 2009, the Brookings Institution held a panel discussion on the future of U.S. - Turkish relations. Moderated by Mr. Mark Parris, Visiting Fellow in Foreign Policy at the Brookings Institution, and with an Introduction by Arsuhan Dogan Yalcindag, Chair of the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD), the event's panelists included Pr. Soli Ozel, Professor at Istanbul's Bilgi University's Department of International Relations & Political Science and senior advisor to the chairman of TUSIAD, as well as Pr. Omer Taspinar, Professor of National Security Strategy at the U.S. National War college, and currently a Nonresident Fellow and the Director for the Turkey Project at the Brookings Institution.

Pr. Soli Ozel presented findings from a report entitled "Rebuilding a Partnership: Turkish-American Relations for a New Era - A Turkish Perspective." Co-authored by Pr. Ozel, the report offered several concrete recommendations for the improving of Turkish-American Relations. One contention that was fervently promoted by Pr. Ozel was that the messenger is equally as important as the message conveyed in foreign diplomacy, and there is much hope in the new American Administration's potential ability to quell any concerns about this phenomena recurring.

Among the recommendations laid forth by Pr. Ozel was the concept that the U.S. is to not treat Turkey as an afterthought, and that foreign policy matters should be worked through with Turkey; the United States is to reform its proclivities towards isolationist foreign policy development. In addition, the strategic choice of remaining an Atlantic Ally has led to much divide in the Turkish community in their home state and the diasporas of the West. Currently, there is a separation between the Pro-Atlanticist and Pro-Eurasian Turkish population. Yet it is of great importance, as Pr. Ozel claims, that this Pro-Atlanticist relationship be nurtured, for it is only through increased endorsement of the Turkish state by the U.S. that Turkey will ever see relations with the European Union improve in the wake of the Cyprus Incident.

Pr. Omer Taspinar analyzed his recently published book, Winning Turkey (Brookings Institution Press, 2008).